Latest News from the Balkans

In closing arguments at Ratko Mladic’s trial, lawyers for the former Bosnian Serb military commander said he never ordered the Srebrenica mass killings and the case against him was systematically biased.

As Bulgaria’s main parties appear unable to form a new government within the current parliament, the President faces the difficult task of assembling a temporary caretaker administration before his mandate expires in January.

The building of a concrete wall by the Serb authorities near their side of the bridge that ethnically divides the Kosovo town of Mitrovica was ordered to stop after strong criticism by Kosovo Albanian officials.

The six Balkan personalities joining Politico's list of 28 European movers and shakers include an honest policeman in Romania, the tough-guy President of Turkey, a civic activist in Serbia and a Mayor in Kosovo.

Pro-government tabloid accuses former top diplomat Vuk Jeremic of witholding information about the unexplained deaths of two soldiers - in what could be a move to spoil his presidential chances in 2017.